[ENG]

The event is just around the corner! In 5 days we will open the dance with the first day of seminars (here the event’s program and the abstracts).

Meanwhile, for those who will participate in the tournament on Saturday, here are some useful informations.

The tournament will start as soon as the weapon’s check will be concluded. The start will be at 9.30 o’clock, with the pool stage for all disciplines and it will end at around 13.30. To verify your group please check the list at the bottom of the article. The scheme for the carrying out of individual groups will be as follows:

The eliminatory phase will start after lunch, at 15.00 and will continue until 18.00. The duels will follow the order of the following table:

The finals will be conducted on a single Area, one after another, starting at 18.30 and ending at 20.30. At the end of the Winning Ceremony we will go to have dinner at the restaurant “Sa Corte Noa” (read the logistic article) as a perfect conclusion for the tournaments.

Keith Farrell

Keith Farrell is one of the senior instructors for the Academy of Historical Arts, based in Scotland. He teaches HEMA professionally, often at international events, and has an interest in coaching instructors to become better teachers. He has authored “Scottish Broadsword and British Singlestick” and the “AHA German Longsword Study Guide”, and is one of the regular contributors to the Encased in Steel online blog. He has been a member of HEMAC since 2011, and was awarded a HEMA Scholar Award for Best Instructor for research published in 2013.

Ilkka Hartikainen

Ilkka Hartikainen has studied historical fencing for over a decade. Starting with medieval longsword he eventually discovered the Renaissance Italian fencing traditions and became deeply interested in the beautiful, diverse and yet effective martial art of the 16th century Bolognese masters. Since then Ilkka has made it his mission to bring this art back to us today. Ilkka has presented his work on three continents and continues to spread the art through workshops and his website marozzo.com.

M° Francesco Lodà

Francesco Lodà started his career in historical fencing in 1999, establishing the fencing club ASD Accademia Romana d’Armi-Scherma Storica Roma in 2001. As a teacher and trainer, he has reached so far the following main titles and appointments: Maestro d’Arme A.I.M.A., Maestro di scherma storica U.I.S.P., Istruttore Nazionale di Scherma Storica F.I.S. – A.N.S., Athletical Trainer C.O.N.I., plus several others. As sport executive, he is President of A.I.M.A. – Italian Master-at-Arms Association, delegate member of the HEMA national board in F.I.S. – Italian Fencing Federation and U.I.S.P. – Italian National Sport Union, and National responsible for Rapier/Rapier & Dagger in F.I.S. As an athlete, through 2004 and 2015, he has placed prominently in all the national and international rapier tournaments he joined in Europe and U.S.A., including F.I.S., SWORDFISH, HEMAC-DIJON, RAPIER, UISP, WMAW, FISAS, gaining 15 gold, 3 silver, 4 bronzemedals and 2 technical prize medals. As a researcher, he follows a doctorate in History at the University of Toulouse and Rome (ancient religions, indo-Europeanism, and the historiography of the twentieth century).

Federico Malagutti

Federico Malagutti began his practice of historical fencing in 2010 in the local company of reenactment “VALS”, in 2011 he devoted himself to the study of the Treaty MS Dresden C 487 “Sigmund Ringeck” and then translated it into Italian. In 2012 he came into contact with the instructor Roland Warzecha, remaining very impressed about his skills, during the years from 2013 to 2015 he devoted himself mainly to the study of the Treaty I.33 London Tower Fechtbuch adopting the system of the Instructor Warzecha. In January 2014 he joined the association “La Sala delle Armi” based in Turin, and created a branch in Valsesia. In March 2014 he began to study two new martial arts, parallel to the study of fencing. Yoshin Ryu Ju-Jutsu (Traditional Ju Jutsu style) and Shinto Muso Ryu Jo-Do, which allowed him to greatly improve his knowledge of the principles that regulate the functioning of martial arts. In February 2015 approaches the physiotherapeutic system of postural correction “Mézières”, to improve the symmetry of the body and its functionality in the context of the art. In the current period he continues with the courses of study mentioned above, and teaches the system of I.33 in the Valsesia’s branch of “La Sala delle Armi”.

Davide Morleo

Born in Asola (near Mantova) in 1971, he starts his research as martial artist at the age of 14 practicing for a few years Karate Shotokan. At the age of 19 he goes to Venice where he alternates studies of arts (architectural first) to his martial arts. From 1998 he works in Security Business for a national istitution spread on the national territory. This job offers him the occasion to improve his knowledge as martial artist. Back to his born town in 2008 discovers the world of Historical Fencing and in 2010 is one of the scholars that found the “Sala d’Arme dell’Appeso”. Even if he loves norkeling he doesn’t have a scuba diving license.

Peter Smallridge

Peter Smallridge has trained with the KDF association for seven years, becoming a certified instructor and now running the Tonbridge group. He took up mixed martial arts, including Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Olympic freestyle wrestling, in order to give a base of grappling to his HEMA studies. He holds a blue belt in Brazilian JiuJitsu, has medals from both modern and historical grappling tournaments (including winning the SwordFish and SKUNKS 2014 Ringen Tournaments) and is undefeated in amateur MMA, winning all five matches by first round submission. He has previously taught historical grappling at events including FightCamp, SwordFish, and Feile Na Gaiscigh (Ireland’s national HEMA event).

Paolo Tassinari

Historical Fencing Experience
From 2001 he’s constantly practicing Historical fencing as martial art with a particular focus on Italian Styles from XV to XVII Centuries and Bolognese School.
All activities concerning study, formation and teaching has been devoped within Sala d’Arme Achille Marozzo (SAAM)or at personal level, taking advantage, at the beginning, of the experience and guide of the Instructor Marco Rubboli.
Within Sala d’Arme Achille Marozzo has the role of Instructor since 2006 and formal member of the Technical Comitee (SAAM internal autorithy concerning teaching an methodology). He also covered for many years the role of Council Merber and Vice President.
Actually covers the role of President of Scuola Bolognese Achille Marozzo (SBAM) the SAAM Agonistic Team affiliated to Federazione Italiana Scherma (FIS).
In 2011 he gets the FIS National Instructor degree for Historical FencingAgonistic Experience
From 2001 to 2005 – Takes part to UISP Historical Fencing Italian Championship with the following results:

From 2005 to 2012 – Starts his activities as Agonistic Coach. The athletes trained by him have reached in 7 years more than 15 First Places and 10 Second Places in various disciplines
2013 to now – Side by his Coach activities at the age of 46 decides to participate to the FIS circuit of Historical Fencing winning 3 titles as Italian Champion in the disciplines of “Sword & Bucler”, “Sword & Cape” and “Terrain Sabre”.
On 2014 he’s mainly focused on study and coaching.

Reenacting Experience
From 2006 he’s founder member of “Legio XII – Fulminata”, a rennacting group of a Roman Legio of the Cesarian period and a Gladiator School of the 1st Century A.D.
Other experience of martial/military & sport interest
Serves as Paratroopers during the Military service from 1990 to 1991.
During this period attends the following special trainings:
Military Paratrooper Commission (20 launches with several night launches, sea launch, war launch at low altitude)
“German Army” Military Paratrooper Commission, taken at Military Base in Mertzig (DE)
Sniper training
N.B.C. (Nuclear, Bacteriological and Chemical Hazards) training
Advanced Close Combat Training
Various Survival training in hostile environments

He also participates to the following drills during the Military Service:
– “Istrice” – Urban Combat
– “Muflone” – Recon and combat in mountain environment
– “Mangusta” – NATO interforces

Before the beginning of the IBIS Operation, Dec 92 – Mar 94, participates to the evacuation of the Italian citizens in Mogadishu with “counter sniper” role.
From 1992 to 2001 studies and practices Judo. Leaves on 2201 as “Black Belt -1st dan” and several success at agonistic level.
From 2006 dedicates to “Endurance Running” and participates to several marathons and ultra marathons.
In 2010 participates to Marathon des Sables (recognized as the toughest endurance race in the word) running form more than 250 km in the Sahara desert closing at 275° place on more than 1100 partecipants.
In 2012 obtains the SCUBA Diver license.

Fran & Piermarco Terminiello

Fran is an instructor at School of the Sword, where she has studied Bolognese swordplay and rapier for the last four years. Together with her husband, Piermarco, Fran gave a workshop at HEMAC Fiorentia 2014, the first of its kind teaching techniques from Giganti’s ‘lost’ second book of 1608. This is a work which Piermarco discovered, translated and published in 2013 with Joshua Pendragon. In March this year she demonstrated some of these techniques at a lecture delivered by Piermarco and Joshua at The Wallace Collection, London UK. In 2013 Fran co-founded Waterloo Sparring Group, with members from HEMA clubs all over the south of England. Collectively they have won numerous medals at international tournaments since they formed. As ‘Agent in Europe’ Fran helps to manage Esfinges, a worldwide organisation for women in HEMA, and is a strong supporter of inclusion in the HEMA community. Fran placed silver in lightweight dagger and gold overall in the women’s mixed weapons tournament at Iron Gate Exhibition 2014.

Piermarco Terminiello is an instructor at the School of the Sword, UK. His research interest is focused on sixteenth and seventeenth century Italian swordplay. He has an extensive knowledge of technical manuals from the period, including a number of widely overlooked works. Along with Kevin Maurer he was recognised as “Best Researcher” in the inaugural HEMA Scholar Awards of 2013. Among other research, he has unearthed and translated (co-authored) the “lost” second book of Nicoletto Giganti (1608), unearthed the lengthy manuscript treatise of Giovanni Battista Maffani (1629) not listed in any fencing bibliography, published an English translation (co-authored) of Francesco Ferdinando Alfieri’s La Scherma (1640); a transcription and English translation of Giuseppe Colombani’s L’Arte maestra (1711); and a transcription of the Biblioteca Trivulziana Cod.256 (c.1680). He has helped bring HEMA to a wider public, having previously lectured at the Wallace Collection, in London UK; and published a paper in the long-established peer-reviewed Journal of the Arms and Armour Society. He has enjoyed success as a competitive fencer, winning and placing in a number of international competitions, primarily in the disciplines of single rapier, and rapier and dagger.

In our modern rapier play, sometimes we’re tempted to bet on pure-timing actions, quick as a lightning, drove by the aim of touching the opponent, free from the contact of the blades; this can surely be effective, with the proper training, both in competitions and in Salle. But in a martial perspective, following the dictate of our treatises, this attitude could be considered dangerous and potentially leading to a terrible incontro, a double-hit, a two widow thrust or blow.

So, the workshop will present the way the ancient rapier fencers followed to drive the actions in a safer perspective: to control the opponent’s blade with ours, in particular during the Second Intention or the Contratempo actions. We’ll study this habit through the teachings of the Roman Masters of XVIIth Century, introducing before the “concept” and then various technics of Guadagno di spada, the principal way of the Roman School to master that important attitude of control.

After a short introduction the class will be focused on the practical approach, following F. A. Marcelli (Regole della Scherma), and the manuscripts of O. A. Marescalchi and D. De Greszy (published soon).

“I.33 basic flowdrill seminar”

Federico Malagutti,La Sala delle Armi – Valsesia

The system of ‘I.33 contains a circularity of sequential actions, these actions may be found several times in the Treaty (shown or only named). 3 of these actions in particular are at the very base of the system, they include the two counterbinds and three fundamental wards: Halpshilt, Sixth (pectori) and Third (Humero Sinistro).

This seminar will examine a Flowdrill using these three actions, building through the guards and their interaction the basis of a fencing system.

One training: “Sprechtfenster” to understand concepts as fuhlen and winden, perfection of “Frequens Motus”;

Brief introduction to Meisterhau.

This seminar has to be considered as the report of part of the studies and research held in the last 4 years by members of the “Sala d’Arme dell’Appeso”. Is not to be intended as the result of one single person work, it cames from every single “Appeso” analysis of the text.

Workshop 4: Friday, 9th October – 16.30-18.30

Keith FarrellAcademy of Historical Arts

The “Outer Takings”

The “Outer Takings” are a set of winding techniques found in the Liechtenauer tradition, although their description varies from source to source. Some of the sequences are relatively straight forward, others require a greater level of parsing and interpretation. This workshop will examine some of the different examples of these techniques and show where different sources illustrate or describe similar and different versions. Skill level: more suitable for advanced practitioners; winding actions in drills should be reasonably easy for you to understand and perform.

“Fundamental skills: defence in the Kölner Fechtbuch”

In the longsword treatise of the Kölner Fechtbuch, there are only two defensive techniques described explicitly. This workshop will examine these two techniques from the point of view of the fundamental skills required to perform these actions successfully in sparring. The exercises will begin in a simple fashion and will be accessible to complete beginners, and over the course of the lesson, the drills will be developed to add complexity and “noise” to help bridge the gap between simple choreographed drills and the chaos of sparring. Skill level: suitable for beginners and advanced practitioners.

“Manipulating Measure with Rapier and Dagger”

Fran Terminiello & Piermarco TerminielloThe School of the Sword

Measure is one of the cardinal principles of Italian rapier. The fencer who controls measure frequently controls the fight. The masters provide various stratagems and techniques to close and control measure, which often depend on guile and an understanding of essential fighting geometry over straightforward athleticism.

This class will start with some specific methods of closing measure from a lunge-orientated approach. It then explores manipulating measure using passing footwork (which is discussed in most depth by Fabris, but also covered by other masters) and how Fabris’ principles can be applied outside of the specific tactic of “proceeding with resolution”.

Workshop 8: Sunday, 11th October – 14.30-16.00

“Three historical approaches to the Bolognese tradition”

Illka HartikainenFencing club EHMS

The Bolognese tradition is without a doubt one of the most versatile and best documented styles of historical swordplay. Not only did the masters describe the principles of the fencing style but also gave us ample examples of how the style works in different contexts. In this workshop we will look at the Bolognese tradition from three different aspects: how the style offers a comprehensive framework for analyzing and understanding (and teaching) any type of swordsmanship, how the style lends itself for beautiful displays of choreographed technique or spectacular friendly fencing and finally brutal, straight-forward and no-nonsense techniques for duel or the street.

Workshop 8: Sunday, 11th October – 14.00-16.00

“Auerswald at Arm’s Length”

Peter SmallridgeWaterloo Sparring Group

Further info on the Ringen class – what kit to bring, expectations of prior knowledge/fitness etc. It’s aimed at providing an introduction to Ringen, we’ll be working primarily from the 1539 Fabian von Auerswald manual.
If you have them, please bring a mouthguard, groinguard, and jacket. If you don’t have a grappling jacket (either Ringen or judo/jiujitsu) then no problem. You could wear a hoody you’re willing to risk getting torn, or I will be showing no-clothing-grips versions of everything. If you go that route, try to avoid wearing a baggy tshirt. Otherwise, sensible training clothes (no studded wristbands, outsized chain necklaces or baggy, zip covered raver trousers please!) and shoes suitable for grass as we’ll likely be outside. There’s no need for prior experience, and the fitness requirement is minimal as long as you’re prepared to push yourself. Do expect to have to do moderate exercise and learn how to do some rolls and breakfalls.

At the bottom you can download a pdf with all the names of the actual registered people. Please check if all the infos are correct, in particular the tournaments participation and type/size of the t-shirt. For any info or change please feel free to contact us at:

The airport (www.aeroportoditorino.it/en) is connected to the Porta Nuova Train/Metro Station via a bus service, the trip will take 30-40 mins approximatively. The bus stop is right in front of the “National and International Arrivals”.

The bus service connecting the Airport of Milano Malpensa (www.milanomalpensa-airport.com/en) is the SADEM company. It connects the Terminal 1 and 2 with Turin Porta Nuova and Porta Susa stations. The trip is 2 hours approximatively. Please check the SADEM website for more infos.

Moving in Turin is really easy (it is a Roman square city!). The fastest and cheapest way is the Metro, running across the city from the North to the South. On the surface is then connected with a net of buses and tram. Download the GTT Mobile app and take a look at the website for all the infos about routes.

For those who have to spend one or more nights in a hotel, we have an agreement with the following ones, easily accessible from the train station and connected to the venue by metro and public service.It’s very important to report the reservation as partecipants of the event TaurHEMAchia 2015 organized by La Sala delle Armi in order to get the price of the convention. Rooms are subject to availability, so it is reccomended that partecipants book as soon as possible. If you need a different accommodation please refer to Tripadvisor [Suggested places near the city center: Cit Turin, San Donato, Campidoglio, Centro; near the event venue: Nizza-Millefonti –> map of the zones].

– € 90,00 per camera quadrupla per notte (colazione compresa) / per room per night in a 4 people room (breakfast included)

CENA SOCIALE / SOCIAL DINNER

Per motivi organizzativi entrambe le cene di venerdì e sabato si svolgeranno in due locali nel pieno centro storico di Torino / Due to organizational reasons both Friday’s and Saturday’s dinners will be made in two restaurants in the historical center of Turin

NB: se avete prenotato la cena di venerdì ricordatevi di pagarla al check-in di venerdì in palestra / If you have registered for Friday’s dinner remember to pay for it during Friday’s check in at the gym

Finally the updated rule set for this year’s edition is ready. Thanks to your feedbacks and after the analysis of different international events, we decided to add few modifications to the previous version.

In the past years TaurHEMAchia has been characterized by a great technical level in conjunction with fairplay environment. Knowing that’s impossible to recreate a perfect judicial duel, we’ve tried to propose a system as truthful as possible, always with a martial approach, in order to reward the technical abilities of the fencers. The different actions will be evaluated with a differential point system on the basis of the location of the received/given hit: in this way it will be important to hit vital parts being aware not to be hit in return, exactly how it should be in a real duel.

[ENG] Poster session

TaurHEMAchia 2015 will offer to all the participant the chance to share knowledge with the public through the presentation of personal or collective posters.

The organizers of the event will form a dedicated commission in order to evaluate the conformity of the proposed posters. The commission will not consider the contents of the posters, but any posters that will not fit the guidelines given below will be rejected.

For the approval of the commission, posters must be submitted via e-mail (as .pdf files) by the 15th of September, 2015. Only the posters previously accepted will be on display throughout the event.